Edwards produced a leap of 17.86 metres - the longest jump in the world this year - to see off a challenge from English team-mate Phillips Idowu.

Idowu was forced to settle for silver with Leevan Sands of the Bahamas taking bronze.

Idowu cranked up the pressure on Edwards with a huge jump of 17.68m in the second round after Sands had set an early mark of 17.26m.

Edwards could only reach 16.26m with his first attempt and fouled with a second jump which would have been long.

But the 36-year-old, who missed the last games in Kuala Lumpur, responded in style with a third jump which was just short of the 18m mark.

"It's just like a party here, it's amazing," Edwards said after his triumph.

"In Sydney there was 112,000 people in the stadium and I don't think they made as much noise as this.

"When Phillips jumped 17.68 I was pretty stunned. I knew I had that sort of distance in me but I was all over the place.

"Even my jump was all over the place. It was sheer competitive response and I was just pleased to get it out.

"I was very, very nervous. If you had asked anybody here before who was going to win probably even Phillips' mum would have said Jonathan Edwards.

"That kind of pressure is tough. When Phillips had me under pressure like that I knew I was in for a fight."

Idowu had no complaints after losing to Edwards' longest jump for two years.

"I wasn't kidding myself. I knew Jonathan was a big jumper," he said.

"I was hoping to get another big one out but my legs started cramping up."